Biomechanical stimulation therapy. A novel physiotherapy method for systemic sclerosis

• Published in: Advances in experimental medicine and biology Vol. 455; p. 309
• Main Authors: Klyscz, T, Rassner, G, Guckenberger, G, Jünger, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1999
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Joints; Male; Middle Aged; Mucous Membrane; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Scleroderma, Systemic - physiopathology; Scleroderma, Systemic - psychology; Scleroderma, Systemic - rehabilitation; Skin
• ISSN: 0065-2598
• DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-4857-7_46

To improve the mobility of joints, particularly of the finger joints and the mandibular joint, and to reduce the edema of the skin, various physical therapies have to be used in patients with SSc. As the quality of patients' life depends on the use of their fingers and of their mouth, these therapeutics belong to the basic measures in the treatment of SSc. In addition to the manually performed lymph drainage a new method, the biomechanical stimulation therapy, has proven to be efficacious to improve the mobility of the joints and to reduce the edema in SSc-patients. By devices of various size, longitudinal vibrations are transduced to patients' body: finger, hand, face, mandibular joint, the oral mucosa, the legs and the trunk. In 6 patients we found: significant (p < 0.05) increase of skin score, grip strength, mobility of joints (10-30%). No side effects were observed. We conclude from these data, that skin, mucosa, joints and patients' quality of life are improved by the biomechanical stimulation therapy in a clinical relevant degree.